Daughter of a diplomat. Tradition says her father received a vision telling him of her birth. Maid of honour to the daughter of a marquis, receiving the same training and education as her mistress. Franciscan tertiary at age 14. Poor Clare nun. Mistress of novices. Established a Poor Clare convent at Bologna in 1456, and served as its abbess. Miracle worker. Prophetess. Mystic. Visionary. Painter and manuscript illuminator. Received a Christmas Day vision of Jesus cradled in Mary's arms.
Born
8 September 1413 at Bologna, Italy as Catherine de Vigni
Died
9 March 1463 at Bologna, Italy; buried without a coffin or embalming; exhumed eighteen days later due to the miracles occurring near her grave, and the odor of perfume that came from it; body found incorrupt; currently resides in the cell in which she lived
